Garland Dewayne Nichols

Sunday

Feb 23, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Garland Dewayne Nichols died February 20, 2014 in Amarillo, TX where he resided.

A private family burial will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday February 22, 2014 at Riverside Cemetery in Byers, TX. The Memorial Service will be at First Baptist Church-Garland, TX on Monday February 24, 2014 at 2:00 pm in the main sanctuary. The family will be receiving guests at 1:00 pm in the church parlor.

Garland Nichols was born April 24, 1947 in Wichita Falls, TX to Ruby and Luther Nichols. He grew up in Byers, TX and attended Dallas Baptist University where he played basketball. He finished his studies and received a Masters Degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. He married Sheryl Duke in Booker, TX in 1972. They had two children, Coby Ben born in 1975 and Brooke D'Lynn in 1978. Mr. Nichols was a member of First Baptist Church of Garland.

Mr. Nichols was passionate about basketball and spent most of his life coaching. He was head coach at Petrolia High School from 1968-1977 and took the team to the State Tournament in 1973 and 1974. Coach Nichols spent 1977-1980 at Rush Springs High School in Oklahoma. He then coached at Pampa High School and also went to the State Championship tournament in 1982. Next, he coached at South Garland High School from 1986 - 2009. Along with coaching he was Assistant Athletic Director for Garland Independent School District from 2003-2005.

Coach Nichols served as President of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. He was recognized at the Texas State Tournament for reaching the milestone of 957 Career Wins. However, most important to Coach were the kids. He was proud of his former players and coaches that span four decades and loved keeping in touch with them.

Mr. Nichols was preceded in death by his father and mother Luther and Ruby Nichols, his fathers-in-law, C.T. Duke & Bob Urban and his daughter Brooke Nichols.

He is survived by his wife, Sheryl Nichols, son Coby Nichols, his brothers Lonnie Nichols and Greg Nichols and their families, his brothers-in-law John Duke and Kevin Duke and their families and many other friends, former players, coaches and students that he always considered "family."

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Brooke Nichols Scholarship Fund at Texas Tech University. To donate: College of Human Sciences Office of Development and Alumni Relations Box 41162 Lubbock, TX 79409 or the Brooke Nichols Memorial Scholarship Fund (South Garland) 1105 Quail Hollow Dr, Garland, TX 75043.

Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guestbook at www.davisfuneralhome.net.

Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 22, 2014

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